Florida runs one of the more generous state assistance menus in the country, and it has one genuinely forgivable product — which is rarer than you would think. It also has a widely publicized program, Hometown Heroes, that is frequently described as free money and is not.
Here is what Florida Housing offers in 2026, sorted by what you actually repay.
The four programs, and what each really is
Florida Housing Finance Corporation runs several assistance products that pair with its first mortgages. The structures differ substantially, so this is the section that matters most.
HFA Preferred / HFA Advantage “PLUS” — the forgivable one
3%, 4% or 5% of the first mortgage amount, at 0% interest, forgiven at 20% per year over five years as long as you stay in the home.
This is Florida’s only genuinely forgivable statewide product, and it is the one to ask for first. Five years in, you owe nothing. It is offered on the Plus TBA program built on Freddie Mac HFA Advantage, with separate tiers above and below 80% of area median income.
Florida Assist (FL Assist) — deferred, not forgiven
$10,000 at 0% interest as a deferred, non-amortizing second mortgage. No monthly payments — but it is not forgivable. The full principal comes due when you sell, transfer, refinance, pay off the first mortgage, or stop using the home as your primary residence.
Florida Hometown Heroes — deferred, not forgiven
5% of the first mortgage, minimum $10,000 and maximum $35,000. Zero interest, deferred, non-amortizing. Again: not forgivable. Due in full on sale, refinance, transfer, payoff or loss of primary-residence status.
This is the largest dollar figure Florida offers and it gets the most press, which is exactly why the repayment terms deserve emphasis. Eligibility requires full-time employment with a Florida employer in a qualifying frontline or public-service occupation; veterans and active military qualify as well. First-time buyer status is required, with exceptions for veterans and targeted-area purchases.
Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP) — an actual monthly payment
$12,500, and this one is structurally different from the rest: it is an amortizing, repayable second at 3% interest with a required monthly payment. Not deferred, not forgiven. You will be making two mortgage payments.
Sources conflict on whether the term is 15 or 30 years, so confirm that with your lender before signing — it materially changes the monthly figure.
Hometown Heroes funding status
This program runs out of money, and it has before. The 2025 allocation was fully committed. It reopened on July 13, 2026 with $50 million, first-come first-served.
As of the program administrator’s August 25, 2026 snapshot, over $35 million remained available. Projections suggested funds could last into early 2027, but treat that as an estimate rather than a commitment — demand can accelerate. One operational note from the administrator: you cannot switch an existing reservation over to Hometown Heroes, so decide before you reserve.
Income and purchase price limits
Florida sets limits by county and household size, split at one-to-two people versus three or more. These took effect for reservations made on or after May 6, 2026.
- Miami-Dade: $136,200 for one or two people, $156,630 for three or more; purchase price cap $697,889.
- Orange County: $114,900 / $132,135; cap $566,354.
- Hillsborough: $114,700 / $131,905; cap $566,354.
- Statewide the price caps range from $566,354 up to $1,036,005 in Monroe County.
Minimum credit score is 640 across programs, and approved homebuyer education is required.
What Florida does not have
Two honest absences worth naming. Florida has no first-generation buyer program — a growing number of states have added one, and Florida is not among them. And there is no true statewide grant: the closest thing is the PLUS second, which is forgivable rather than gifted.
Choosing between them
For most Florida first-time buyers who qualify for both, the PLUS forgivable second beats FL Assist even though the dollar amount may be similar, simply because forgiven money never comes back. Run that comparison first.
Hometown Heroes is worth pursuing if you are in a qualifying occupation and need the larger sum — $35,000 is a lot of leverage in a market like Tampa or Jacksonville. Just budget for it as a debt that settles when you sell.
FL HLP is the last resort of the four, because it is the only one that adds a monthly payment on day one.
- Confirm your county income limit and price cap against the May 2026 figures.
- Ask your lender specifically whether you qualify for the HFA Preferred/Advantage PLUS forgivable second before defaulting to FL Assist.
- If you work in a qualifying frontline occupation, check Hometown Heroes availability early — it is first-come, first-served and finite.
- Complete approved homebuyer education; every program requires it.
- If you are quoted FL HLP, ask for the term in writing and calculate the monthly payment before agreeing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Florida Hometown Heroes assistance forgivable?
No. Hometown Heroes provides 5% of the first mortgage, from $10,000 to $35,000, as a zero-interest deferred second mortgage. It is not forgivable — the full amount is due when you sell, refinance, transfer the property or stop living there as your primary residence.
Which Florida program is actually forgivable?
The HFA Preferred / HFA Advantage PLUS second is Florida’s only genuinely forgivable statewide product. It provides 3%, 4% or 5% of the first mortgage at 0% interest, forgiven at 20% per year over five years.
Is Hometown Heroes funding still available?
It reopened on July 13, 2026 with $50 million on a first-come, first-served basis, and over $35 million remained as of late August 2026. Funds are finite and the 2025 allocation was fully committed, so confirm availability when you reserve.
What is the difference between FL Assist and FL HLP?
FL Assist is $10,000 at 0% interest, deferred with no monthly payment, repaid when you sell or refinance. FL HLP is $12,500 as an amortizing second at 3% interest with a required monthly payment starting immediately — a very different obligation.
What credit score do I need for Florida down payment assistance?
640 is the minimum across Florida Housing programs, and approved homebuyer education is required. Individual lenders may apply higher overlays.
Does Florida have a first-generation homebuyer program?
No. Unlike a growing number of states, Florida has no first-generation buyer provision in its down payment assistance programs.